Silicone molding is a manufacturing process that transforms liquid or semi-solid silicone raw materials into elastomeric products with specific shapes and properties. It serves as the backbone of producing everything from daily necessities (e.g., kitchen utensils) to high-precision industrial parts (e.g., seals). But with multiple molding techniques available, how do you choose the right one […]
Silicone mannequins are lifelike human form or body part models made primarily from liquid silicone rubber through an infusion molding process. Their key advantages lie in ultra-high realism and elasticity, allowing them to replicate tiny details like skin texture, muscle lines, even fingerprints and blood vessels. Today, they play a critical role in healthcare, film,
Silicone mold processing is a precision manufacturing technique that transforms liquid silicone rubber (LSR) or condensed silicone rubber into elastic, detail-rich molds. By infusing uncured silicone onto prototype surfaces, it replicates complex structures—from 0.05mm micro-textures to large architectural components. Its core strengths (low cost, short cycle, high customization) make it a go-to for rapid sampling,
TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) and silicone are two versatile elastomeric materials, but their unique chemical structures, processing methods, and performance traits make them suited to distinct applications—from consumer electronics to medical devices. Understanding their differences is critical to avoiding costly material mismatches (e.g., using TPU for high-temperature seals or silicone for load-bearing parts). This article breaks
The question “Is silicone elastic?” has a definitive answer: Yes—silicone is a highly elastic material, and this trait is one of its most valuable characteristics. Unlike rigid materials (e.g., metals) that deform permanently under stress or brittle materials (e.g., glass) that break, silicone can stretch, bend, or compress and return to its original shape. This
Silicone seals are specialized sealing components made from silicone rubber—an elastomeric material celebrated for its exceptional resistance to extreme temperatures, aging, and chemicals. Unlike traditional rubber seals (e.g., nitrile, EPDM), they balance flexibility, durability, and environmental safety, making them indispensable across industries from electronics to medical devices. This article breaks down their core properties, types,
Silicone hardness test is a critical quality control and R&D tool for silicone products—from soft baby bottle nipples to hard automotive gaskets. It measures a silicone’s resistance to indentation, directly reflecting its flexibility, durability, and suitability for end-use. This article breaks down the two most common test methods (Shore and Rockwell), key influencing factors, and
Silicone bonding requires specialized adhesives—ordinary glues (like white glue or standard super glue) fail to adhere to silicone’s low-surface-energy surface. The right glue depends on your project’s needs: whether you’re bonding silicone to silicone, silicone to metal/plastic, or need high temperature resistance or fast curing. This article breaks down the 4 core glue types for
Condensed silicone and additive silicone are two dominant silicone polymer types, each with unique chemical compositions, curing behaviors, and performance traits. The choice between them directly impacts project costs, precision, and application suitability—whether you’re making DIY crafts, industrial molds, or medical devices. This article breaks down their differences across 7 critical dimensions, with clear comparisons,
High-temperature silicone is a specialized elastomeric material engineered to withstand extreme thermal conditions while retaining critical properties like elasticity, chemical stability, and insulation. Unlike standard silicone (which typically maxes out at 150°C), it thrives in environments ranging from -60°C to 300°C (with some grades handling short bursts of 350°C+), making it indispensable for industrial sealing,
Silicone mold reproduction is a versatile manufacturing technique that uses flexible silicone molds to replicate prototypes—from artisanal figurines and handicrafts to industrial parts. Unlike rigid metal molds, it prioritizes cost-effectiveness, detail retention, and small-batch production, making it a go-to choice for designers, crafters, and small businesses. This article breaks down its core workflow, material selections,
Transparent silicone mold flipping is a specialized mold-making technique that uses high-transparency silicone materials to replicate prototypes with exceptional detail accuracy. Unlike opaque silicone, its transparency lets users monitor casting material flow, detect bubbles in real time, and verify detail replication—making it ideal for precision-critical applications like optical parts, medical devices, and decorative crafts. This
Silicones for mold-flipping (also called mold-turning silicones) are specialized rubber materials designed to create reusable molds for replicating prototypes—from art crafts to industrial parts. Their flexibility, detail-retaining ability, and adjustable curing properties make them indispensable for small-batch production and product development. This article breaks down the main types of mold-flipping silicones, their core characteristics, application
Vacuum duplicating products are high-precision replicas created by pouring liquid materials (e.g., resin, polyurethane) into molds—made from prototypes like 3D prints or CNC parts—under vacuum conditions. This process eliminates air bubbles, ensuring the final product mirrors the prototype’s shape, texture, and details with exceptional accuracy. From automotive parts to medical devices, these products play a
Rapid prototyping molds are specialized tooling solutions that combine fast prototype manufacturing (e.g., 3D printing) with mold replication processes to produce small-batch parts efficiently. Unlike traditional steel molds— which require weeks of machining and high upfront costs—rapid prototyping molds prioritize speed, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, making them a cornerstone of product development, custom manufacturing, and niche
Plastic compound mold processing—also known as vacuum injection molding or soft mold casting—is a cost-effective manufacturing method for producing plastic parts using reusable silicone-based molds. Unlike traditional steel mold processes, it prioritizes speed, flexibility, and detail replication, making it ideal for small-batch production and product development. This article breaks down its core definitions, step-by-step workflow,
